Semi-Homemade Pen Press.

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Chris Hare

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I could not bring myself to spend $30 for a professional pen press. I think I have $10 in this semi-homemade press.

20058222254_homemadepress.jpg
 
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ctEaglesc

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Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I first started turning pens I looked at the over priced presses at Wood craft and decided to use my screw clamp till I could find something better.
One thing I eyeballed real close was a piston type nut craker, but my wife uses that one for our pecans.
(I chose not to jepordize my pecan pies)[:p]
I still think a $10.00 nut cracker would make a great press with a little modification.[:D]
Luckily the Griz press came along at a price I couldn't turn down.[^]
 

Chris Hare

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Ron Mc, Yes the holes were placed close to the size of kits. On the "Piston" end I removed the rubber stopper/screw and screwed in a pan head bolt with the head ground flat. I can assemble a cigar and a baron without adjusting the screw. For a euro I let the bolt out or in to get the fit right. If I was to build it again I would put more holes in the top to limit the need to adjust the bolt. I also drilled a small hole in the back to hang on the wall. Flat space is limited. [:p]
 

alamocdc

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Looks good, Chris, but I have to ask. The adjustable square tubing I can figure out, but what are you using for the "press" part(s)? I may be just stupid and don't recognize something simple (probably the case). [:p]
 

Ron Mc

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Originally posted by Chris Hare
<br />Ron Mc, Yes the holes were placed close to the size of kits. On the "Piston" end I removed the rubber stopper/screw and screwed in a pan head bolt with the head ground flat. I can assemble a cigar and a baron without adjusting the screw. For a euro I let the bolt out or in to get the fit right. If I was to build it again I would put more holes in the top to limit the need to adjust the bolt. I also drilled a small hole in the back to hang on the wall. Flat space is limited. [:p]
Very nice. I use one of those overpriced pen presses and I am about to replace it. Now I'll need to build my own! Great job.

Eagle,
You said Griz makes them? Do you know if he has any for sale?
 

Randy_

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The "piston" mechanism looks identical to the one used in the pen presses sold by PSI and CSUSA. Is this a device you can by at the local hardware store for a reasonable price??

The Lee Valley catalog shows a similar device called a DeStaCo Toggle Clamp; but they are getting $17 + shipping for one so this can't be what you used on your $10 press??

BTW, both PSI and CSUSA charge $40 for thewir pen presses!!
 

dubdrvrkev

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You can find those linear toggles for $10-$12 pretty regularly. I think they were 12.95 at wood craft. I was going to build a press similar to that except I was going to just have a sliding stop block that would tighten with a knob. But then a small arbor press went on sale at HF and that does the trick for me.
 

ctEaglesc

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Originally posted by Ron Mc


&lt;Eagle,
You said Griz makes them? Do you know if he has any for sale?&gt;

Griz as in Grizzly
A while back they were discontinuing a variation of an arbor press .I says "paper press" on it)
It took a little adaptation but makes a great press for about $20.00 delivered.
200528175613_DCP_1512.jpg
 

ctEaglesc

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THis type of nut cracker is the one I considered"eagleizeing"
Haad Grizzly not put theirs on markdown I probably would have continued with my idea.(I guess I would have had to buy my own and let my wife keep hers.)
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Ron Mc

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Eagle,
That would work! With very little modification a pen press could be made that wouldn't have the movement problem during pressing. It would also be very easy to adjust the length.
 

Dario

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Funny how our minds (and luck) sometimes work in similar manner.

I did plan on making a pen press from exactly the same nut cracker which I could have gotten for $3.00 in the flea market. But I decided to hold off because the piston travel is not that much. Bback then I though I need more and not aware that I could have made a step shim/block like a ladder as Russ showed in his website.

Then the Grizzly punch came out...I ended up getting that as my pen press too [:D]
 

jwoodwright

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Funny, that was my idea as well, nutcracker, then arbor press, then paper punch press, modified for pen pressing... 2nd photo shows turret on "pen press"... Works Great!



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2005823131829_Turret%20Style%20Pen%20Press%20005.jpg
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Monty

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Originally posted by jwoodwright
<br />Funny, that was my idea as well, nutcracker, then arbor press, then paper punch press, modified for pen pressing... 2nd photo shows turret on "pen press"... Works Great!

I like the turret idea. I may have to steal oops, borrow that idea.
 

Chris Hare

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Yes, the Press/Piston end is a toggle clamp with a dowel attached for leverage. I am thinking about patenting the idea, so I expect a royality check from each of you in the form of an exotic pen blank![:eek:)]
 

Randy_

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If anyone wants to build a pen press like the one Chris built, there are a couple of DeStaCo clamps available on eBay.....auction #7541041876. You could build 2 presses and sell one here and probably make a few dollars in the bargain.
 
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